THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
When Steven Spielberg directed his own adaptation of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, nobody expected the grounded drama to be just as great as his previous blockbusters. With the quality aging well decades later and remaining culturally significant as well, no one would have expected another adaptation of it until it happened.
PLOT
Based on the Marsha Norman’s stage play production, the 2023 adaptation is told in the style of a musical that follows similar beats, but has its opportunities to make changes to keep the story fresh. The film follows Celie Harris who grew up sexually abused by her father Alphonso in the 1900s Georgia and the only friend she had was her sister Nettie. In 1909, she conceived her second child but would be taken away from her by Alphonso as he did the first. She would then be arranged to marry a widowed farmer, Mister Albert Johnson but would only go through more abuse from him. Nettie would try to take shelter with them to avoid her father’s harassment, but would be kicked out by Mister when she turns him down as well. By 1917, Albert’s son Harpo would marry a woman named Sofia who is more defiant than Celie, but their relationship doesn’t last when he tries to follow in his father’s footsteps of being a dominant husband. When she leaves him, he would turn his potential home into a juke joint with his new girlfriend, Mary Agnes aka Squeak. Around the time he completes building it, independent jazz singer Shug Avery arrives in time to perform. She is also a mistress to Mister and Celie grows fond of her due to her own strong will. They leave Harpo’s joint when Squeak and Sofia start a fight over Harpo’s own affection. When they go into town and see a movie together, they share a kiss. The next day, Shug would pick up the mail on Mister’s behalf and would give her a letter that belongs to Celie. The letter is written to her by Nettie who had promised to write like she promised before getting kicked out. From one letter alone, it confirms Mister has been hiding past letters, which Celie and Shug find in a hidden compartment. As Celie would the rest overtime, she would learn her sister has been residing in Africa, working for the same family that adopted her children. Back in Georgia, Sofia would be mobbed and imprisoned for having an altercation with the mayor, refusing to be the maid of his wife Miss Millie. When she gets released 6 years after the incident, she would still be her maid anyway which breaks her spirit. By 1943, Celie would eventually be caught with a letter by Mister, which would lead to her confronting him in the middle of an Easter lunch for all the pain she’s caused. Gaining such confidence, she and Squeak go with Shug to Memphis, vowing her husband’s life will crumble until he does right by her. Celie would not return to Georgia until two years later when Alfonso died and would inherit her childhood home and the grocery store he owned. She would go on to start a clothing shop with the assist of Shug, Sofia & Squeak, whereas Mister’s life would crumble as she hexed. He ends up doing right by her by arranging her sister and her children to come to Georgia. The reunion would happen in 1947 where everyone shares a family feast outdoors and thank god for how far they’ve done .
THOUGHTS
I wasn’t someone who asked this story to be retold because it felt like this was one too good to be put in that predicament. But since I enjoy both versions of West Side Story, I had to be open minded on how this would turn out. With that being said, I was impressed on how this film really was its own thing. Rather than try to replicate what was done before, Director Blitz Bazawule pulls off making a whole other experience which is the goal when making a musical. The second you hear ‘Mysterious Ways’, you fully accept how different things are gonna be and you respect it for it. The costumes are just as great as before and song after song, you’re just hooked in what you’re witnessing. This adaptation still works as a whole for maintaining the theme of following your heart and the inspiration you gain to overcome oppression. These factors pay off thanks to a fantastic cast that make the characters their own. With Celie grown to be an iconic protagonist thanks to the previous portrayal of Deserta Jackson & Whoopi Goldberg (the latter who appeared as the midwife in the opening) respectively, which is where I’m in awe to see the bar to be met by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi & Fantasia. Phylicia gets the ground going on how Celie was just a girl who lost her innocence too early in her life yet has enough confidence she’ll still find happiness which she expresses when singing “She’ll Be Mine”. Through the adult Fantasia, we see how numb she became to the abuse and slowly regains the confidence needed to be her own person for once. Long before she reunites with her family to perform the film’s titular track alongside the core cast, you will be at tears when you hear “I’m Here” because it symbolizes how strong she’s become inside and will not let her walls be destroyed again. As told before, we don’t get story of recovery without the people that paved the way for her to do so. Sadly Nettie wasn’t able to be there for her longer due to a physical obstacle, there was no doubt she meant so much for teaching her to keep her guard up. Before we see her adult counterpart played Ciara, it is the young Halle Bailey that defines her due to nailing the character’s bravery. And you felt all the genuine love they had for each other when they sing “Keep it Movin’” together at the beginning, which makes the reunion bittersweet. No one will ever top what Oprah Winfrey did as Sofia, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be the only one capable of making an impact with the role. Enter Danielle Brooks who earns her first Oscar nomination for enhancing all the fierceness this character is all about. Her song “Hell No” is such a bop because it defines exactly how she refuses to take shit from anyone no matter what. You definitely feel bad Harpo since Corey Hawkins still makes a good hearted and humble guy which is displayed through his own song “Workin’”. I don’t condone him trying to be dominant towards her, but at the same time I don’t blame him since his imposing father would expect him to act as such. Sofia knew of his predicament and knew they needed to separate. Her motto to not put up with people’s ignorance sadly backfired when it came to one who had all the power needed to bring her down. Once she gets out of prison, your heart just sinks to see her become so depressed. Thankfully, Celie returns the favor by inspiring her to take a stand when she stood up to Albert. That alone was enough to have her pick things up where she left off with Harpo. Taraji P Henson would also succeed in making Shug her own due to perfecting how outgoing she was while also being compassionate towards everyone, especially Celie. Her song ‘Push Da Button’ just works so well because it defines on having a good time on her end. She helps Celie come out of her shell through the song ‘What About Love?’ and with a kiss because she saw how meek she was and wanted her to be as happy as she is. The helping hand she was to her inspired herself to make amends with pastor father who she was estranged with for so long due to his disapproval of the life she chose. The scene is done beautifully thanks to the song ‘Maybe God Is Tryin’ to Tell You Something’ where Henson has a stellar duet with David Alan Grier as her dad. Now this journey doesn’t pay off with a threat so intimidating to behold. Danny Glover left behind big shoes to fill as Mister, yet Colman Domingo is able to make a whole new element of evil with this character alone. He’s just as slimy as we remember him for to think he was in the right to be dominant over women. And again, this happens due to the generation trauma that started from his father Old Mister (Louis Gossett Jr.). The best use of Dan Laustsen’s cinematography was when we see both men across the table from each other when the women leave. It gets me everytime because it showed how Albert sees his own reflection due to following his footsteps. It was overdone of a happy ending for Celie to be on speaking terms with him because I don’t think he deserves it compared to other villains who’ve made poor decisions of their own, but at least he still chose to redeem himself when arranging her family to return to the states. The only thing that bothered me more than Mister being forgiven was how Squeak was portrayed. You have her played by Oscar winning songwriter/artist Gabriella Wilson aka HER and she doesn’t have proper attention, which is the same problem done before. She even had her own song ‘Any Worse’ that is part of the soundtrack yet doesn’t make the film’s cut. I know this character has a bigger presence in the novel and there is no point in having her in any adaptation if you’re not gonna respect that. Hearing her briefly sing in ‘Miss Celie’s Pants’ just isn’t enough for me to be satisfied. Other than that, I respect everything else that was done to captivate us. In short, 2023’s The Color Purple is a sensational musical that has you feeling moved throughout. If the original film pulled that off for you, prepare for this second dose if you can.
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